Box construction



Dec. 13, 1960 Filed Jan. 9, 1958 o. E. COTE ET AL 2, 64,228

BOX CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Shet l VENTORS IN OMER E. COTE g$KAR W.WIKSTROM ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 o. E. COTE ET AL 2,964,228

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS OMER E.COTE OSKA W. WI KSTROM BY ATTORN EYS Dec. 13, 1960 o. E. COTE ET AL BOXCONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 9, 1958 INVENTORJ' OMER E. COTEOSKAR W. WIKSTROM BY FIG.8

ATTORNEYS States 2,964,228 iiox CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1958, Ser.No. 707,925

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-333) This invention relates to an improved form of boxof the type comprising an article receiving section and a cover hingedto the article receiving section.

Boxes made of heavy paper, boxboard and the like and comprising anarticle receiving section and a cover section hinged to one of the wallpanels of the article receiving section are well known in the art. Onecommon form of box with respect to which the present inventionconstitutes an improvement is the type used for cigarette cartons, waxedpaper, pastry and the like. This type of box usually consists of abottom portion comprising four upstanding side panels and a bottom paneland a top portion hinged to one of the side panels comprising a toppanel and a front flap or a top panel and three side panels. This typeof box is popular because of its relatively low cost. However, since thecover opens very easily, it must be tied or otherwise secured ifspilling of the contents is to be prevented. Moreover, to facilitateclosing the box, the front side panel of the cover section usually isdetached from the other two side panels so that in effect it is nothingmore than a flap. In either construction the cover section provides solittle reinforcement or support for the corresponding portions of thebottom section that this type of box cannot be used satisfactorily forheavier articles such as, for example, nuts, bolts and other hardwareelements. The latter type of merchandise is usually contained in a boxwhich, for the purposes of the present discussion, may be identified asa telescope box. This type of box is made in two sections, each sectioncomprising four side panels and a single end panel. The box is closed byinserting the open end of one section into the open end of the othersection so as to place the two sections in telescoping relation. Thistype of box is relatively strong because of the reinforcement providedby the overlapping of the side panels of the two sections. However,these boxes also have disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the twosections must be fully separated in order to gain access to the contentsand quite often one part is mislaid or damaged due to failure to replaceit in its normal telescoping relation with the other section. Anotherdisadvantage is that the two parts must be of different sizes so thatone can be inserted into the other. This difference in size requiresthat the two parts be made from different blanks, fabricated separatelyand then combined to form the box. Still another disadvantage occurswhere a large number of containers of this type are required as, forexample, in a factory making screws, bolts, nuts, etc. In such case itis necessary to stock both sections of the box and to keep the sectionssegregated until the smaller section has been packed and is ready toreceive the cover section. Another disadvantage is the ease with whichcontents may be spilled. If the outer or cover section is graspedwithout simultaneously supporting the inner section, the two parts mayseparate and the contents be spilled.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide a boxwhich combines the advantages of a pastry type box with the advantagesof a telescope box atent section has a bottom panel, a bottom end panelconnected to one end of the bottom panel, and two bottom side panelsconnected to the bottom panel and the bottom end panel. The cover has atop panel, two cover side panels connected to opposite sides of the toppanel, and two cover end panels connected to the end of the top paneland the cover side panels. The other end of said bottom panel ishingedly connected to the lower edge of one of the cover end panels,this latter cover end panel being separated from the cover side panelsfor a limited distance from the said hinged connection to provide aportion of the said one cover end panel which is free to bend outwardlyalong a line parallel to the hinged connection whereby the said portionmay be flexed away from the said other cover end panel as the cover isclosed over the article receiving section and whereby the free edge andall of the inner surface of the said other cover end panel may passprogressively over the upper edge of said bottom end panel withfrictional effects hereinafter explained.

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred form of cardboard blank employed toform a box according to the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box formed from the blank of Fig. lwith the cover in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3a is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 3 but showing how thehinged end panel of the cover is flexed as the cover is moved to aclosed or open position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the nature of theinvention when used in connection with a box whose depth issubstantially the same as its width.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the box of Fig. 2 in completelyopen position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a second form of box blank embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a third form of box blank also embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6 of a one piece molded boxalso embodying the present invention,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the box of Fig. 2 with thecover in substantially the same position as that occupied in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a preferred form of blankfabricated from cardboard or paperboard for forming a box embodying thepresent invention. The blank comprises a rectangular top or cover panel2 connected at its rear end to the corresponding end of a bottom panel 4by means of an intermediate panel 6 which, for convenience, willgenerally be referred to as the top rear end panel of the cover of thebox, but it should also be noted that panel 6 is an end panel which iscommon to both the cover section and the bottom section. The top rearend panel 6 is demarcated by score or crease lines 8 and 10 whichfunction to facilitate bending of the top and bottom panels relative tothe end panel 6. Running transversely of the top rear end panel 6 is athird score line 9. In the present em Patented Dec. 13, 1960 bodimentscore line 9 is closer to the bottom panel 4 than it is to the top panel2 and effectively subdivides panel 6 into two portions 6a and 6b. Thevertical location of score line 9 may be varied according to the boxdimensions and the degree of friction wanted for maintaining the coversection in closed position over the bottom section.

At its other end top panel 2 is provided with a top front end panel 12,the latter being demarcated by score line 14. Also formed integral withtop panel 2 are two top side panels 16 and 18 which are demarcated byscore lines 20 and 22. The two side panels 16 and 18 are provided attheir forward ends with side flaps 24' and 26 demarcated by score lines28 and 30 respectively. At their rear ends side panels 16 and 18 areprovided with rear flaps 32 and 34 which are demarcated by score lines3.6and 318. respectively. It is to be noted that portions ofthe, rearend flaps 32 and 34 are separated from side panels 16 and 18 by meansoftransversely extending slits 35, and 37 respectively. These slits arealigned with score lines 36 and 38. Rear flaps 32 and 34 are alsoprovided with score lines 40 and 42 which run at right anglesto scorelines 36 and 38 and which form small tab portions 44. and 46 which canbe bent relative to the flaps 32 and 34 respectively.

The top end panel 12 is provided with glue as shown at 48 which is usedto secure the side flaps 24 and 26. The other top end panel 6 is alsoprovided with glue at selected areas 50. between score lines 8 and 9.The glue at 50 is provided to secure portions of the flaps 32 and 34mthe end panel 6. The tabs 44 and 46 overlie the area 6a in ungluedrelation.

The bottom panel 4 is provided with side panels 52 and 54 which aredemarcated by score lines 56 and 58. These side panels 52 and 54 areprovided with front end flaps 60 and 62 which are delineated by scorelines 64 and 66, respectively running at right angles to score lines 56and 58. Bottom panel 4 is also provided with a front end panel 68, ascore line 70 being provided to facilitate bending. of the front endpanel 68 relative to the bottom panel 4. The front end panel 68 isprovided with a transversely extending score line 72 which terminatesshort of the opposite side edges of the, panel. and functions todelineate a flap 74 which can be bent back relative to the remainder ofpanel 68. Formed in bottom front panel 68 at its opposite edges are twosubstantially L-shaped slits 76 which are located to one side of scoreline 72. These slits extend straight in fro-m theopposite edges for apredetermined distance and then extend forwardly and inwardly,terminating at the ends of score line 72 and forming locking tabs 78 atthe opposite ends of flap 74. The top end panel 68 is also provided withglue at areas 80 for securing the end fiaps 60 and 62.

Looking nowto Fig. 6. the top cover section of the box is formed bybending side panels 16 and 18. relative to the top panel 2 along scorelines 20 and 22 and by bending the flaps 24, 26, 32 and 34 relative tothe side panels. The front end panel 12 is also bent relative to thetoppanel 2. The flaps 24 and 26 are glued to the top front end panel 12.The top panel 2 is also bent relative to the rear top end panel orcommon panel 6 and the flaps 32 and 34 are secured thereto at thelimited glued areas 50 only so that the area 6a of panel 6 is free tofiex away from the plane of area 6b.

The bottom article receiving section of the box is formed by bending theside panels 52. and 54 along score lines 56 and 58 and by bending theflaps 60 and 62 relative ot the aforesaid side panels. The front bottomend panel 68 is bent along score lines 70 and 72 and the flaps 60 and 62are secured to it by the glue provided at areas 80. At this point thebox is as illustrated in Fig. 6. It is to be noted that the tab portions44 and 46 which overlie area 6a are not secured thereto. I Area 611 ofthe top end panel 6 is free to bend along the score line 9. It is to benoted also that when flap 74 is bent back alongcrease line 72 the latterin effect becomes the top edge of the front panel of the bottom sectionof the box and is so referred to hereinafter. Bending back of flap 74also causes locking tabs 78 to project forward slightly beyond theremainder of panel 68 (see Fig. 3a). When the bottom receiving sectionand the cover section are brought together as shown irnFigs. 3, 4 and10, the cover section will swing initially relative to the bottomsection along score line 10. It is believed apparent that if all of endpanel 6 were maintained in the same plane with the top pivoting solelyalong line 10 it would be impossible to close the box. Thisrnay beunderstood by reference to the dot dash line of Fig. 4 in which theunbent end panel is indicated at 6', the top panel at 2' and the frontend panel at 12'. Under such conditions the front panel of the coversection would be obstructed by the top edge 72 of the front panel 68 ofthe bottom box section. However, because the tab portions 44 and 46 ofside flaps 32 and 34 are not secured to area 6a of top rear end panel 6,the latter can function as two panels 6a and 6b which arehingedlyconnected along score line 9, and panel 6a is hinged to bottompanel 4 on score line It}. The lower panel 6a acts as a freely movableconnecting link between the bottom panel 4 and the upper portion 61) ofthe end panel 6.

Thus when the cover section is pivoted from open position toward closedposition or when the cover is closed and it is desired to open the box,area 6a of the top rear end or common panel 6 is brought into or remainsin parallelism with panel 63 and the cover then during closing oropening pivots about score line 9'. Putting it another way, the, outwardbending of area 6av in effect permitsthe bottom section to be shiftedrearwardly relative to the cover section just enough to allow the bottomedge 12a of the topfront panel 12 to clear the top edge 72 of the bottomfront panel 68. Thereafter as closing of the cover progresses the topedge 72 of the bottom endpanel presses against the inner surface of thetop end panel 12 with first increasing friction and then decreasingfriction, the maximum frictional effect occur ring when that part ofthefront end panel 12 that is opposite hinge 9- is in engagement withtop edge 72. in other words, by considering the dimensions of the cover,the hinge 9 may be so located intermediate the top and bottom'edges-ofpanel-6 that the lower edge of panel 12 can be made to clear the upperedge of panel 68 but thereafter during closing there is a substantialtight position or area that must be passed before the cover reachesfinal closed position. If the box were of rigid material, this could notbe accomplished, but because of the flexibility of the boxb'oard orother material of which these boxes. are made enough distortion canoccur to permit forcing of the cover downward past the tight area.Conversely, in opening the box equal force must be exerted in theopposite. direction. There is therefore provided by this constructionan. automatic locking mechanism which effectively prevents accidentalopening and spilling of contents.

When the cover is closed the top rear panel 6 will have assumed a planeconditionas shown in Figure 3. Figs. 4, 6and10 illustrate how portion 6abends relative to portion 6b. In Fig. 4, as previously noted, the coveris shown in both solid and broken lines to emphasize how it movesforwardly relative to the bottom box section when top rear panel6. isbent along line 9, thus making it possible for the cover to close aspreviously explained.

Fig. 6 shows the cover-in open position after it has been rotated withrespect to the bottom through an arc of '180 degrees. However, itisapparent that had the top been rotated through only degrees the bottomwould have been fully uncovered because the intermediate connecting linksection 6a would have pivoted 90 degrees about line 10 to liein theplane of bottom panel 4.

When in thisposition, the sides, 16 and 18 would extend verticallyand'be beyond the ends 206 and 208 of sides 52 and 54. This arrangementis of advantage when filling the bottom-with merchandise as the box maybe placed on a table with the bottom section flat thereon and the top orcover section standing on end 6 and beyond the end of the bottomsection.

- The portion 6a of the end panel acting as a connecting link niakesitpossible to use a cover having end and side walls as deep as those ofthe bottom since it permits the cover to start closing over the upperedge of the bottom end wall without initial box distortion to befollowed by the frictional self-locking characteristic heretoforeexplained.

The locking tabs 78 function to keep the cover fully closed. The tabs 78cooperate with and overlie the upper edges of flaps 24 and 26 to holdthe top and bottom together. In opening the box, however, the tabs mayreadily be pulled out of locked position. The locking construction canbe seen more clearly by reference to Figs. 6 and 3a. In Fig. 6 the topedges of flaps 24 and 26 are spaced sufiiciently from top panel 2 of thecover to accommodate locking tabs 78. When the cover is pivoted toclosed position the flaps 24 and 26 engage tabs 78 and thereby causeflap 74 to pivot clockwise (as seen in Fig. 4). Flap 74 pivots enough topermit flaps 24 and 26 to slide down past tabs 78. However, when the toppanel 2 of the cover engages flap 74, it rotates the flapcounterclockwise thereby moving tabs 78 into the space between flaps 24and 26 and top panel 2. When tabs 78 are in this position (Figs. 3 and3a), they act with flaps 24 and 26 to hold the cover and bottom sectionsof the box together in final closed condition.

' It is pointed out, however, that the tabs are simply an auxiliarymeans for holding the parts in the maximum closed position. Theprincipal feature of the invention is the hinge arrangement whichresults in the substantial frictional effect between the end panels asthe lid is closed or opened. This frictional effect, which occurs whilethe lid is swinging through a substantial angle on the way to completeclosed position, prevents accidental opening in the manner previouslyexplained.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cardboard box formed from a blank similar in shapeto the blank employed to form the box of Fig. 2, but differing therefromin dimensions. The height of the box of Fig. 5 is substantially the sameas its depth measured from front to back, whereas in the box of Fig. 2the depth is substantially greater than the height. In the box of Fig. 5the bottom section comprises a bottom panel 90, a front panel 92 and twoopposed side panels 94, only one of which is shown. The side panels aresecured to the front and bottom panels. The box also includes a coversection comprising a front panel 96, a top panel 98, a back panel 1% anda pair of opposed side panels 102. Although only one of the side panels102 is shown, it is to be understood that both of them are secured tofront panel 96 and top panel 98. The bottom edge of back panel 100 ishinged at 104 to the back edge of bottom panel 98. The back panel 189 isalso creased or scored horizontally at 106 so as to be bendable uponitself. Above the level of score line 106, back panel 189 is attached toside panels 102; below score line 1436 it is not attached to side panels102. From a comparison of Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the deeperthe box relative to its length the higher must be the hinge point of thecover if the lower edge of the front panel of the top is to clear thetop edge of the bottom front panel and the proper frictional effect isto be obtained between the inner surface of the top end panel and theupper edge of the bottom end panel. As shown in Fig. 5, the cover inclosing is approaching the point of maximum friction with upper edge 105of the bottom end panel 92.

Fig. 7 illustrates a second form of box blank. This second form issimilar to the box blank of Fig. l and accordingly identical numeralsare used for corresponding parts. The differences are emphasized bynumerals not common to Fig. 1. One difference is that the top sidepanels 16 and 18 and the bottom side panels 52 and 54 do not have endflaps; Instead top front panel 12 is provided with two side flaps and112, rear top panel 6 is provided with two side flaps 114 and 116, andbottom front panel 68 is provided with two side flaps 118 and 120. Theside flaps 114 and 116 are partially detached from rear top panel 6 bymeans of slits 122 which extend from the rear edge of bottom panel 2 tothe fold line 9. Another difference is that the end panels 6, 12 and 68are not coated with glue. Instead glue 124 is applied to both ends ofpanels 16 and 18 and additional glue 126 is applied to the front ends ofside panels 52 and 54. The flaps 110, 112, 114 and 116 are glued topanels 16 and 18 to set up the cover and flaps 118 and are glued to sidepanels 52 and 54 to set up the bottom of the box. As with the box formedfrom the blank of Fig. 1, when the cover and bottom of the box formedfrom the blank of Fig. 7 are swung toward and away from each other thetop rear panel 6 bends along crease line 9 to permit the panel 12 toslide past the panel 68. Bending of panel 6 along crease line 9 isrendered possible due to the fact that the portion 6a is not attached toside panels 16 and 18 by means of flaps 114 and 116, the latter beingdetached from portion 6a by the slits 122. The flap 74 of Fig. 7 is notprovided with tabs 78 previously described since in this constructionthere are no cooperating flaps on the inside of the top front end panelwith which tabs 78 might engage.

Fig. 8 illustrates a third form of box blank. In Fig. 8 partscorresponding to parts in the box blank of Fig. l are identified byidentical numerals and those parts or fea' tures which are different areidentified by different numerals. In Fig. 8 the top side panels and 142are formed integral with the sides of top front end panel 12 and areprovided along their top edges with flaps 144 and 146 respectively. Thetwo bottom side panels 148 and 150 are formed integral with the sides ofbottom front end panel 68 and are provided at their bottom edges withflaps 152 and 154 respectively. The top rear end panel 6 isprovided withtwo flaps 156 and 158 at its opposite side edges. In setting up thecover top side panels 140 and 142 are bent at a right angle to panel 12and the latter is bent at a right angle to top panel 2. Flaps 144 and146 are bent at right angles to top side panels 140 and 142 and securedto top panel 2 by means of glue 160 applied along the side margins ofthe top panel. Panel 2 in turn is bent at a right angle to top rearpanel 6 to place top side panels 146 and 142 in position to be securedby flaps 156 and 158. The latter, after being bent at a right angle totop rear panel 6, are secured by glue 162 to the rear ends of sidepanels 140 and 142. The bottom is set up in a similar fashion, flaps 152and 154 being secured to the side margins of bottom panel 4 by means ofglue 164. It is to be noted that flaps 156 and 158, like the flaps 114and 116 of Fig. 7, are partially detached from top rear panel 6 by meansof slits 166 which extend from the rear edge of bottom panel 2 to thecrease line 9. Thus when the cover and bottom sections are broughttogether top rear panel 6 can bend along crease line 9 to permit the boxto be fully closed.

The present invention is not confined to boxes made of paperboard orcardboard and may be embodied in boxes constructed of other materialssuch as plastic. Fig. 9 illustrates a box made of plastic. Althoughpolyethylene plastic is preferred due to its flexibility, it isrecognized that other plastics well known to persons skilled in the artmay be employed instead. The advantage of a plastic box is that itrequires no flaps to hold the side panels together and, therefore, theinterior surfaces of the cover and bottom sections of the box are smooththroughout. Other advantages are strength and ease of manufacture usingconventional high speed molding machines.

From a comparison of Fig. 9 with Fig. 6, it is quite clear that theboxes shown in those figures both embody the same invention. In Fig. 9the bottom section comprises a bottom panel 181), two side panels 182and 184, and a front end panel 186. The cover consists of a top panel188, a front end panel 190, two side panels 192 and 194, and a rearpanel which comprises two portions 196a and 19612. Portion 196!) isattached to the rear end edges of top side panels 192 and 194 and toppanel 188. The side edges of portion 196a are not attached to either thetop or bottom sidepanels but the bottomedge is attached to the'rear edgeof bottom panel 189. Because of the flexibility inherent in polyethyleneor other equivalent materials of which the box may be made, the bottompanel 180 can pivot relative to portion 196a along the line of juncture198 and portion 196a in turn can pivot relative to portion 196'b alongthe line of juncture 200. If necessary, pivoting can befacilitated byscoring or reducing the thickness of the plastic material along theaforesaid lines of juncture. In opening and closing the box the portion196a of the top rear panel is free to alfect rearward relative movementof the bottom section by an amount willcient to permit the top frontpanel 190 to slide over the bottom front panel 186.

It should also be observed that in all forms disclosed the bottomsection, when the box is closed, cannot shift longitudinally withrespect to the top section in the direction' of the top rear end panel.This is so because of the engagement of the rear edges of the bottomside panels with the inner face of the top rear end panel. Referring toFigs. 1 and 3, for example, the bottom section cannot shift to the leftwith respect to the top section for the left edges 206 and 208 of panels52 and 54-will engage the inside of top rear end panel 6-at the upperpart 6b which is secured to the topside panels 16 and 18. In otherwords, the construction permits hinge action at line 9 only duringopening or closing of the top section.

In the box made from the blank of Fig. 1 and as illustrated in Figs. 4and 10, the outside edges of tabs 44 and 46 also help to fill the smallspace that may be present between vertical edges of area 6a and theadjacent vertical edges of bottom side panels 52 and 54.

It is our intention to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention herein chosen for pur poses of the disclosurewhich do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:

A one-piece box having a cover section and a bottom section, said coversection comprising a top panel, front and rear end walls and two sidewalls, means connecting said side walls to said front and rear walls,said bottom section having a bottom panel, two side walls and'a' frontend wall of substantially the same vertical dimensionas the end wallsofsaid cover section, ,said

bottom side walls standing free and unconnected at and for thefulllength of their rear edges, the rear end wall of said cover sectionacting as the closure for the open end of said bottom section when said'cover section has been placed in closed position on said bottom section,the

lower edgeofsaid rear cover end wall being hingedly connected to saidbottom panel at said open end whereby said cover section can be swung atright angles to said bottom section in which position said rear coverend wall will be aligned with said bottom panel to present an enlargedcontinuous flat area with the free edges of said cover section sidewalls being closely adjacent the said cover side walls along a line offlexure parallel to, the said hinged connection of said rear cover endwall with said bottom panel, said line of fiexure being intermediate thetop and bottom edges of said rear cover end wall whereby during theclosing of said cover section over said bottom section and with the said'lower portion of the said rear cover end wall in parallel relationshipwith the front end wall of said bottom section, the distance from saidline of fiexure to the lower edge of said front end wall of the coversection will be such as to permit said front cover end wall to be moveddownwardly over the upperedge of the front end wall of the said bottomsection and-the interior surface of said front cover end wall will'therea-fter frictionally engage the upper edge of said bottom front endwall as said cover is moved to closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS271,975 Quildfeldt Feb. 6, 1883 639,269 McMillin Dec. 19, 189931,046,398 Morrison et al Dec. 3, 1912 2,141,752 Hoarle Dec. 27, 19382,839,236 Dunning June 17, 1958 2,870,952 Ringler Jan. 27, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 32,754 Norway July 25, 192-1

